Insomnia in Perimenopause - Causes and Treatments of

Insomnia in perimenopause can contribute to menopausal weight gain.

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Not only does insomnia leave you feeling tired and cranky, it can have a knock-on effect on your weight. Lack of sleep prompts your body to release cortisol, a hormone that makes you more likely to develop a fat belly. Tiredness also makes you crave sugar and fatty foods - the junk that's so damaging for your midlife midriff.

If your night sweats are bad enough to keep you awake, see your physician to explore possible hot flash remedies.

A healthy menopause diet can help relieve insomnia in perimenopause. Avoid going to bed hungry, but don't eat a heavy meal too close to bedtime either. A light, non-protein snack before bed can work wonders for helping you sleep.

IInsomnia may simply be the result of stress. Perimenopause can make you more susceptible to stress, which can make it harder to "switch off" when you go to bed at night. Stress affects health in many ways and doing all you can to relax may help improve your sleep.

Consider creating a de-stress ritual before you go to sleep. Don't go to bed without winding down first. Take some time for some light reading or any another relaxation activity, like meditation, before you try to sleep.

Melatonin Supplements for Sleep

Melatonin is a hormone responsible for creating feelings of tiredness. Normally, it is released when the amount of light available to your eyes signals to your brain the onset of darkness (which the brain naturally associates with night). Experimenting with a low dose of melatonin for sleep may help you to reduce your insomnia in perimenopause.